Enterprise Blockchain Consulting for Automotive: Connected Vehicles and Supply Chains

Automakers can now turn regulatory pressure into advantage by combining sovereign data spaces, verifiable credentials, and selective blockchain anchoring to prove provenance, compliance, and carbon metrics across vehicles and parts. This field guide shows how decision‑makers can deploy production‑grade architectures aligned with Catena‑X/Tractus‑X, EU Data Act, EU Battery Passport, ISO 15118 Plug & Charge, and ISO/SAE 21434.

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Who this is for

• Startup and enterprise leaders in mobility, EV charging, Tier‑n supply, and software platforms
• Heads of digital, compliance, sustainability (CSO), data, and cybersecurity
• Product owners evaluating PoCs versus industrialized rollouts

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Why now: 2025–2027 regulatory and standards cliff

• EU Data Act obligations began phasing in on September 12, 2025; “access‑by‑design” for connected products and related services applies to products placed on the EU market from September 12, 2026, with unfair contract term rules fully catching certain pre‑2025 contracts from September 12, 2027. Expect explicit rights for drivers/workshops to obtain in‑vehicle data in machine‑readable, real‑time formats. (cliffordchance.com)
• EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 mandates a digital Battery Passport for EV, LMT, and >2 kWh industrial batteries starting February 18, 2027, with role‑based access and QR‑code resolvability to pack‑specific metadata and lifecycle updates. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
• W3C Verifiable Credentials 2.0 became a Web Standard on May 15, 2025, enabling interoperable, privacy‑preserving credentials for organizations, devices, and products (e.g., vehicle IDs, conformity, carbon data, charging contracts). Decentralized Identifiers (DID) have been a W3C Recommendation since 2022. (w3.org)
• UN Regulations R155 (Cybersecurity) and R156 (Software Updates/SUMS) are part of EU type‑approval since 2022; R156 entered into force January 2021 and governs secure OTA update evidence, software identification numbers, and process audits. ISO/SAE 21434:2021 defines the engineering backbone for cybersecurity across the vehicle lifecycle. (interregs.com)
• ISO 15118 Plug & Charge is rolling out globally; modern ecosystems pair PKI‑based contract certificates with roaming (OCPI/OCPP) and are exploring OAuth2/OIDC for friendlier credential install flows. (nexusgroup.com)

Bottom line: You’ll need verifiable, shareable, fine‑grained data across your supply base and vehicles—backed by cryptographic proofs and interoperable standards.

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What “enterprise blockchain” really solves in automotive

• Create tamper‑evident proofs for high‑stakes records (conformity, recalls, SBOM/OTA logs, chain‑of‑custody).
• Issue/verify portable credentials (org, device, product, trip, carbon) without central gatekeepers; revoke or update via status lists.
• Bridge sovereign data sharing (EDC‑based data spaces) with immutable anchors and audit trails.
• Provide privacy‑preserving attestations (e.g., “PCF < threshold,” “battery SOC above 80% at handover”) without oversharing raw data.

The winning pattern is “dataspace‑first, blockchain‑anchored”: share data peer‑to‑peer using Eclipse Tractus‑X components and policy enforcement; write selective hashes/receipts to a permissioned or public chain for auditability and dispute resolution.

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Reference architecture 2025: Dataspaces + VCs + selective anchoring

• Data exchange and discovery
  • Eclipse Tractus‑X KITs (EDC, Portal, Digital Twin Registry, Policy Hub) with quarterly releases (25.06, 25.09, 25.12), supporting AAS 3.x twins, multi‑identity clearing houses, and timestamp search in DTR. (projects.eclipse.org)
  • Asset Administration Shell (AAS) v3.x metamodel for product/part twins; Catena‑X CX‑0002 standardizes DTR access and submodel endpoints. (industrialdigitaltwin.io)
• Semantics and event data
  • GS1 EPCIS/CBV 2.0.1 for IoT/event streams (JSON‑LD, REST, sensor events); ideal for part genealogy, logistics events, and quality incidents. (gs1.org)
• Trust and credentials
  • W3C VC 2.0 + DIDs for:
    • Org identity (supplier onboarding), business partner identifiers
    • Part conformity certificates, PCF attestations
    • Plug & Charge contract certificates and driver consents (paired with ISO 15118 PKI)
    • Status/Revocation via Bitstring Status Lists 1.0 (w3.org)
• Blockchain use
  • Anchors and receipts for EPCIS event digests, SBOM/OTA logs, and CO₂ disclosures.
  • Public or consortium chains depending on risk: e.g., Energy Web/Polkadot for green charging proofs; Fabric/Besu for private industry networks.
• Security and compliance
  • ISO/SAE 21434 processes; UN R156 evidence artifacts bound to VCs and anchored immutably. (iso.org)

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What’s already in production: concrete examples you can copy

• Supply‑chain conformity at scale (Renault XCEED)
  • XCEED (Hyperledger Fabric + IBM) certified part compliance from design to production, tested at the Douai plant; >1M documents archived at ~500 TPS in early rollouts. Use it as a blueprint for distributed conformity data with selective exposure. (media.renaultgroup.com)
• CO₂ and traceability via Catena‑X
  • BMW and partners modeled an end‑to‑end data chain using real CO₂ data (e.g., BMW iX kidney grille), with onboarding now mainstream across suppliers; Catena‑X is now baked into BMW procurement and certificate sharing. (automotiveworld.com)
  • Catena‑X Product Carbon Footprint Rulebook v4.0 (Sept 1, 2025) aligns with WBCSD PACT PCF exchange; adopt the same schemas and calculation rules to compare suppliers apples‑to‑apples. (carbon-transparency.org)
• Battery Passport real vehicles
  • Volvo’s EX90 launched a Battery Passport in 2024 with Circulor: origin, recycled content, carbon footprint, and 15‑year health data—about $10/vehicle—years ahead of the 2027 EU mandate. (reuters.com)
• Green, provable EV charging
  • Volkswagen Group Innovation + Elli + Energy Web delivered 24/7 renewable‑matched charging with auditable certificates backed by the Energy Web Chain; pilots showed users could select assets and time windows and receive granular proofs for fleet accounting. (globenewswire.com)

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Connected vehicles: data rights, V2X, and charging—what to build in 2026

• Data access and consent under the EU Data Act
  • Design for “access‑by‑default” (from 2026 for new models), with user‑mediated sharing of telematics, diagnostics, and charging data to workshops/insurers/EMSPs. Use VC‑based consents so drivers and fleet owners can grant and revoke fine‑grained scopes. Expect complementary EU legislation on vehicle data access. (alston.com)
• Plug & Charge and identity
  • Keep ISO 15118 PKI as the root of trust; bind contract certificates and driver identity to VCs for portability across CPOs/eMSPs; monitor research blending OAuth2/OIDC for simpler credential installs. (nexusgroup.com)
• Trip, usage, and mobility credentials
  • MOBI’s VID and Trusted Trip standards define verifiable Trip/Vehicle credentials for MaaS, congestion pricing, parking, and usage‑based insurance—practical building blocks for monetizing connected mobility. (dlt.mobi)

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Supply chains: traceability, PCF, and recall speed—what to standardize

• AAS‑first digital twins with Catena‑X profiles
  • Register every part/pack as an AAS twin (v3.1/3.2) and attach use‑case submodels; Catena‑X standards (CX‑0002, CX‑0126) shift from “RECOMMENDED” to “MUST” in Saturn‑Release 2025 for Part Type twins. (catenax-ev.github.io)
• Event provenance with EPCIS 2.0
  • Emit JSON‑LD EPCIS events at critical handoffs (assembly, quality, shipment, commissioning). Compute rolling digests per lot/vehicle and anchor to chain for non‑repudiation; retain raw events off‑chain for privacy and cost. (gs1.org)
• Carbon data exchange
  • Adopt PACT Data Exchange Protocol v3.x and Catena‑X PCF Rulebook v4.0; use VCs to sign PCFs and granular “proofs of calculation” to satisfy audits while keeping sensitive inputs private. (wbcsd.github.io)
• Battery Passport buildout
  • Map passport fields to AAS submodels; enforce access tiers per Article 77 (public, “legitimate interest,” authorities). Use VCs for conformity/repair events; link “new” passport to prior IDs on repurpose/remanufacture. (eur-lex.europa.eu)

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Software, OTA, and cybersecurity: evidence you can show regulators

• Align cybersecurity engineering with ISO/SAE 21434 and store attestations as VCs (design review, TARA outputs, pen‑test summaries).
• For UN R156 SUMS compliance, log OTA campaigns, SW identification numbers (RX SWIN), approvals, and rollback proofs; hash these logs and anchor them periodically to ensure integrity across fleet lifetime. (unece.org)
• Bind SBOMs (SPDX ISO/IEC 5962, CycloneDX 1.7/ECMA‑424) to each ECU image; sign and time‑stamp, then issue a “Software Build VC” that links to the SBOM hash. This slashes incident triage time and simplifies supplier compliance. (iso.org)

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Implementation blueprint (90–120 days)

1. Strategy and scoping (Weeks 0–3)

• Pick two value tracks: a) Supply chain PCF + conformity; b) Connected vehicle charging + data consent.
• Map data owners and legal bases (EU Data Act roles; contractual terms for non‑EU subsidiaries). (eu-data-act.com)

1. Reference stack selection (Weeks 2–6)

• Dataspace: Tractus‑X EDC + Portal + DTR; choose an enablement provider (e.g., Cofinity‑X) for faster onboarding. (projects.eclipse.org)
• Identity: DID + VC 2.0 wallet and issuer; define trust registry and status list.
• Ledger: choose use‑case‑fit anchoring—Energy Web/public for green proofs; Fabric/Besu for private consortia.

1. Data modeling (Weeks 4–8)

• AAS submodels for Part Type, Battery, and Compliance; EPCIS 2.0 events for movements and quality. (gs1.org)
• PCF schema using PACT v3; map Catena‑X PCF Rulebook constraints. (wbcsd.github.io)

1. Build and integrate (Weeks 6–12)

• Implement EDC data plane and policy enforcement; emit and verify VCs for:
  • Supplier onboarding, conformity certs, PCFs, charging contracts, and OTA campaign records.
• Anchor weekly digests on chain; automate evidence packs for auditors/regulators.

1. Pilot and audit (Weeks 10–16)

• Run end‑to‑end: supplier emits EPCIS + PCF VC → OEM consumes via DTR → aggregated CO₂ claim anchored.
• For Plug & Charge: install contract certs, perform 24/7 green‑matched sessions with verifiable receipts. (globenewswire.com)

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Emerging best practices we recommend

• Dataspace‑native first: Keep raw data off‑chain; use policies/usage control and anchor only minimal proofs. This meets antitrust and confidentiality constraints in Catena‑X. (catenax-ev.github.io)
• VC 2.0 everywhere: Use one credential model for suppliers, devices, parts, trips, and software—then manage lifecycle with Bitstring Status Lists to avoid brittle bespoke revocation. (w3.org)
• AAS as the digital twin backbone: Standardize discovery and read access through the DTR; avoid duplicate twins; attach submodels for PCF, conformity, battery life, and SBOM pointers. (catenax-ev.github.io)
• EPCIS 2.0 event hygiene: Define “must emit” events at every custody change; sign events at source and batch‑anchor digests to reduce costs and preserve privacy. (gs1.org)
• Green charging receipts: Combine ISO 15118 with energy‑attribute proofs (24/7 matching) so fleet managers can audit carbon accounting, not just kWh. (globenewswire.com)
• SUMS + SBOM provenance: Treat OTA and software as safety artifacts—issue signed VCs that point to SBOM hashes (SPDX/CycloneDX). (iso.org)
• Plan for EU Battery Passport operations: Implement role‑based access, link remanufacture/reuse passports, and design 15‑year retention strategies. (eur-lex.europa.eu)

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KPIs to track from day 1

• Compliance lead‑time: time to furnish regulator‑grade conformity evidence per VIN/lot (target: <24 hours).
• Recall scope accuracy: % reduction in over‑recalls due to better genealogy.
• PCF coverage: % of purchased parts with primary‑data PCFs (goal: >70% in first year).
• Supplier onboarding time into dataspace (target: <10 business days).
• EV charging green‑proof coverage: % sessions with 24/7‑matched certificates.
• OTA auditability: % campaigns with complete SUMS evidence (pre‑approval → deployment → rollback).

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How 7Block Labs can help

• Catena‑X onboarding at scale: AAS/DTR setup, EDC policies, and certificate management aligned to BMW’s 2025 requirements. (bmwgroup.com)
• VC trust layers: Issuer/Verifier design, trust registries, and revocation for suppliers, devices, and credentials (VID, conformity, PCF).
• EPCIS and PCF pipelines: Event capture, hashing/anchoring, and PACT v3 PCF exchange with Catena‑X Rulebook v4.0 alignment. (wbcsd.github.io)
• Charging proofs: Integrations for ISO 15118 PKI, OCPP/OCPI backends, and 24/7 clean‑energy matching receipts (Energy Web). (globenewswire.com)
• SUMS + SBOM: OTA evidence and SBOM provenance with SPDX/CycloneDX VCs tied to each image. (iso.org)

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Final take

Automotive leaders who harmonize dataspace standards, verifiable credentials, and targeted blockchain anchoring will be ready for the 2026 Data Act design mandates and the 2027 Battery Passport deadline—while gaining measurable speed in recalls, supplier onboarding, fleet charging transparency, and audit defense. The tooling is mature, the reference stacks exist, and exemplars (Renault, BMW, Volvo, Volkswagen/Elli) have proven the path; now is the moment to industrialize them across your programs. (cliffordchance.com)

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